Charlotte Varcoe
A MOUNT Gambier/Berrin based recycling business has expressed disappointment about the Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA) putting aside plans for a materials resource facility.
Recently, the LCLGA made the decision to explore other options for further recycling and waste management across the region and “put aside” possible plans for a materials resource facility.
Willie van Niekerk from Ecoplas said although he understood there may have been difficulties securing the volume of materials needed, he was disappointed the project had been put aside until further notice.
“Not knowing all the details behind what the motivation, there may be economic reasons and the scale, it might also be that we do not have the volume but it is a bit disappointing,” Mr van Niekerk said.
“It has been brought up with me a couple of times with council and I think a lot of the bigger industries and businesses in the region have reached out first and they were desperate to replace the region and they were desperate to replace the large-scale recycling.
“Most of the local councils I would imagine have difficulties with freighting all the recyclables to the bigger cities, sell or potentially landfill.”
Mr van Niekerk said his business was focused on a sustainable fencing solution by using 100 per cent locally recycled plastic.
He said he sourced all his materials from Adelaide, Melbourne and within the region before manufacturing fencing droppers and battens.
“We have been up and running now for close to four years and we have been in our current location for two years and we serve about 250 kilometres around,” Mr van Niekerk said.
“We have a few different streams of plastic coming in so we have a local collection here at our site so if there are community members who want to bring in clean milk bottles there are some bins they can drop them off to.”
He said the community also donated bottle lids with the rest being bought from bigger processing facilities.
“It is washed and we shred it and the main reason why we do not wash it ourselves is because we do not have the environmental protection agency licence here,” Mr van Niekerk said.
“That is why we get the community to bring in clean plastic or we buy it so we can then blend the different types and add UV stabliser in it to make it stand up against the sun.”
He said should there be a material resource facility established in the Limestone Coast he would use it.
“If there was to be number two plastic that was washed that would be perfect and we would be happy to use that,” he said.
“Having more material available creates opportunities and if there are people who are interested in processing this stuff the rewards are readily available.”
Mr van Niekerk suggested should volume be the main barrier for the future of the facility it would be possible to incorporate Western Victoria councils as well.
“I would encourage councils to keep it in mind and take a long term view on it,” he said.
“I can understand numbers and volume wise and although we may be constrained for the short term, I think the way the world is going with more organisations and more emphasis on recycling not just for households but for industries as well which will get bigger and bigger, this could be a good business model.”
